Your upcoming movie Wasted - in a few words, what is it
about?
Wasted is a zombie stoner geek comedy. It is a fun, high octane ride
where you see a group of friends have high adventures in the zombie
apocalypse. Unlike most characters in all zombie films, our characters
WANT the zombie apocalypse to happen. Our characters are a reflection of
today's world. We acknowledge zombie related items and like most people I
am sure who have got together with their friends and ask "What would
we do in an outbreak?" This is for you! Wasted has been entered into the CineCoup
2015 challenge - please explain the rules and requirements of the
challenge for a bit, and why did you choose this route to try to fund your
movie? Cine Coup allows filmmakers the opportunity within
12 weeks to present their project to the public and say "check out my
project and get on board!" In those 12 weeks are voting rounds which
wind down the projects entered into the Top 60, 30, 15, final 5 who will
pitch to the Cine Coup producers as to why they deserve a shot at funding.
There are challenges for sure because in 12 weeks we are doing what a
major studio does in 4 or 5 months. That is marketing, explaining what
their film is, and try to get people to say "There is something to
this, I want to watch this as a full film!" It's really exciting and
nerve-wrecking because we have to make quick decisions & see if those
decisions stick. You might have a great concept but how do you enhance it
to where not just a niche, but entire audiences will be up for it.
What do you think makes Wasted stand out
among the contesants of the challenge? And since zombie films are a dime a
dozen these days, what makes yours special? The biggest
feedback is we get is due to the zombie aspect. Let's be honest, zombie
genre has become zombie culture. It has over-saturated the market much like
how vampires had. What makes Wasted different is, again, we want to bring
a fun side to the apocalypse. The best zombie film characters are not the zombies,
but, the people and their stories. The Walking Dead is about the
survivors, they are literally the "walking dead". It is in our characters
and our personal influences which we bring to Wasted will make our project stand out. And, we also want to evolve zombies to where
we have our own special brand of zombies.
Do talk
about both Wasted's brand of humour and approach to horror for a
bit! Wasted is a hybrid of sorts in that we are
bringing influences from everything we grew up in. We live in a time where
our generation grew up exposed to all types of what is now popular geek
media. Comicbooks, video games, cartoons, even wrestling. We all grew up
watching classic horror movies loving the same icons such as Jason,
Freddy,
Pinhead. Our approach to both the horror & comedy is our
influence. We love gory stuff, it gives some talented makeup effects
artists jobs after all, but, we also like some witty BBC comedy as well.
My favourite BBC
shows are Fawlty Towers, 'Allo 'Allo and Only Fools &
Horses. It's just trying to put them together where it is not overload but
just right.
That influence even goes with our brand of zombies as well. We are the
Nintendo generation, there are tons of games we can take to make our
zombies unique. You will also be appearing in front of the camera
in Wasted, right? So what can you tell us about your character, and
what will you draw upon to bring him to life? The best part
of how we approached Wasted is that all the characters are based on
ourselves. What you see on screen is a reflection of our personality, but
just tweaked a bit. A better way to explain our characters, or the
main cast, is that we are like the Ninja Turtles. When you look at that
they are all turtles and ninjas obviously; but, Leonardo is totally
different from Raphael. We might be all friends and like the same horror
films, but, we are all identified by our traits. I would say my character
is more Leonardo with a bit more action & wrestling character edge to
him. How did
you get involved with the project in the first place, and how did you end
up on the production side of things as well? I am an actor,
and the rest of the cast & crew are in the industry. Some do it full
time as their regular day job. Some do it outside their employment. We are
all friends first off and that is the key aspect. We built a team and
trust each other. I'm sure anyone out there who undertakes anything knows
you need a core team. A crew that believes in the project, whatever it is.
So each person has to take more than one job.
When we make it then we can hire underlings and chillax with hookers and
pizza, but for the time being you have to take more than one role.
Otherwise you are slacking, and that hurts not only the project but the
team as well. What can
you tell us about the rest of Wasted's key cast and crew, and why
exactly these people?
The funny thing about Wasted is that,
as mentioned, the characters are a reflection of people today. How Wasted
began was like, I'm definitely sure, after watching a zombie film we sat
around, drank, smoked up a bit and talked what we would do in a zombie
apocalypse. Thus the genesis of the Wasted bible. Since we did build a
team of people we trust each other. Especially in this competition you
need that trust because each week CineCoup gives us a mission to do.
These missions are examples of introducing more of the project, the team
members, and the idea to latch on.
It is a big Wasted family and we have many other traits we bring.
Lance Fernandes is our main editor, motion effects, co-writer.
Sid Nagenthiram is our director, co-writer, actor, co-producer.
Claire Bonduro acts, also does marketing.
Lovina Yavari acts and helps out with other side aspects of Wasted we can
get into such as comicbooks and brand it off. Plus contributes to the
story.
Darrin Drugan acts but also helps with music as he is a rapper/producer as
well.
Samuel Lin acts but takes other main jobs. As mention before your team
has to put on other hats. Who else are you gonna trust? Let's say you get your film funded
through CineCoup - when will you go into production, and any idea
when and where the movie might be released onto the general public yet? The
last time CineCoup ran this challenge, Wolf Cop won. I am not sure when
they started production but I do believe the film first got released in
Canada through our chain of theatres. Then brought overseas for festivals
& review. It is available now on Blu-ray. It's really a fun film, I
encourage you guys to check it out.
Any
future projects beyond Wasted?
Yes, I have a feature
film which I am both starring and co-producing in called Past Tense. It
is an adventure comedy and set in the year 1990. About a crazy professor,
a loan shark and a time machine. It's a throwback of sorts to films we
enjoyed watching, I would say it is very Bill & Ted. Just a film fun
which you can watch any time.
Here is our trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QOHAdgN274
What got you into
acting in the first place, and did you receive any formal training on the
subject? At first I wanted to be more of a writer &
director and got into Film/Television in my highschool years. As many know
in high school and post secondary some times you have to act in front of
the camera as well. When I did that, as the saying goes, the acting bug
bit me. I took some training, especially Sears & Switzer, here in
Toronto, Canada. They are fantastic so if anyone of you reading this and
want to become an actor, and is living in Toronto, seek them first.
What can you tell us about your filmwork prior
to Wasted?
I have worked a lot in
the more of the web series community here in Toronto. I have appeared in
short films and indie features, but a lot of web series. I am starring in
a time travel action drama called Out of Time. You can find that on
Facebook, look for "Out of Time Series".
Also other web series
such as Clutch, Asset, Pete Winning & The
Pirates, the new
Standardized, which is coming out. A lot of web stuff.
How would you describe yourself as an
actor, and some of your techniques to bring your characters to life?
For me as an actor is
that I get live out many lives which I do not normally do. One day I am a
doctor, another day I am a gangster pulling off a heist, the next day I am
with the woman I love, the day after I am saving the day from aliens. That
is the way I approach in that I get to live so many lives. I don't have a
particular technique, just that no matter what I am doing I have to
believe. Even if it is the most dumbest thing imaginable. Acting is all
make believe and the audience is smart enough to know that this person is
not giving their all. They don't believe it. So, if I believe it, if I
take it seriously, then the audience will.
Example, I did not attend my high school graduation ceremony. I missed
that part out, but, years later I got to take part in a graduation
ceremony for a commercial. Yes, it is all fake but to me it was real. I
got to live out that moment which I didn't in real life. Again, if I
believe it is real then you will.
I would also say watch
everything. Even if it is bad because there things you can take which you
can apply to your craft.
Actors
(and indeed actresses) who inspire you?
I think Cate Blanchett
is untouchable. She is the best thing going toda,y the stuff I have seen
from her inspires me. There is Leonardo DiCaprio who rules, and Joaquin
Phoenix. This guy is really doing some incredible work recently. You can
see total character difference from The Master to Her and recently
Inherent Vice.
Also, I have to say
Arnold Schwarzenegger inspires me personally. Just his persona and overall
story. No matter what you think of the guy, he came to America with
nothing and now he is one of the most recognizable people ever. And, he
has a ton of charisma. You know he is in the room.
Your favourite
movies?
I have a ton and all
are different. I would say the one film that inspired me was Conan the
Barbarian. That film literally changed my life, I watch all the
time on my birthday. Think about it, there really is no film like it out
there. Sure, there are imitations but nothing that comes close to it.
There is just something operatic about it. I could go on and on about
Conan the
Barbarian, but, "that is another story which will also be
told"... see what I did there to any Conan fans reading this.
Since this is about zombies I will say my favourite zombie films are still
Dawn of the Dead,
the original and Snyder's remake. The original the message still rings
true to this day. And Snyder's remake is just pure fun. It's the original
but pumped full of steroids. Jolly good time.
... and of course, films you really deplore?
It's funny that being
on the producing side and being on both sides of the camera there is a lot
of work put into productions. So I come from the perspective that nobody
sets out to make a bad film. That would be stupid, you waste all this money
only for something to be crap? C'mon man! Even most films which most
likely everyone hates you can pick out stuff and learn from it.
But, there are films
out there which is just pure trash. Alone In The Dark... shit! I paid money
to see that in theatres.
Your/your
movie's website, Facebook, CineCoup-page, whatever else? CineCoup page:
http://www.cinecoup.com/wasted/trailer
Facebook
www.facebook.com/Wastedshow
Twitter
www.twitter.com/Wastedtheshow Anything
else you are dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask?
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One
last thing and this is for anyone reading, this CineCoup challenge all
the projects are in the hands of the people. You get to vote which project
goes through to that Top 60, Top 30, Top 15, finally that Top 5. To get
there we NEED your support. The only way to support is by signing up to
CineCoup. It works the same way as making a Facebook account. Just put in
your name, where you are from, your email. Verify your account and you can
start following projects.
Find our project Wasted - http://www.cinecoup.com/wasted/trailer
- and follow us, give us a rating out of 5 stars, leave a comment, share our
project on you social media handles. Let your friends/family/people know
about us as well.
You will be notified when it is time to vote and then vote us in.
It is through your voice, you saying "Yeah, I dig this project. I
want to see this made. I want to get wasted while watching Wasted"
that tells CineCoup that we deserve a shot.
See, not only we want to make the best zombie film, we want to make the
most fun film! The most enjoyable ride you can have in 90 minutes.
In order to do that we need your help. My guarantee is to make the most
radical film possible, we just need to get there. Thanks
for the interview!
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